[Normandy, right after they hit the relay, as seen from the skill the Eyes of Hermaeus Mora.]
Corporal Jenkins was talking with Doctor Chakwas. Commander Shepard was with Joker and Alenko at the helm. The Specter Nihlus was heading to captain Anderson. And Anderson was reading Shepard's file. *Looking at the highlights*
[Commander Jane Shepard (no middle name found) Gender: Female. Occupation: Soldier. Born April 11th, 2245. Place of birth; Mindoir.
Childhood notes; At age sixteen home was raided, loss both family and friends.
Career Highlights (So Far) - Early in career while on leave, was caught in the Blitz on Elysium. Rallied the defenders until reinforcements could arrived. Although she wasn't alone, many people including those who fought alongside her, act like she single-handedly held the line.
Current assignment; Serving under Captain Anderson in the SSV Normandy.
Classified (Clearance Level Granted): Shepard is currently a prospect for the Council Specter Program.]
Nihlus enters as Anderson closes the file. Anderson receives notice from Joker; Anderson tells Shepard to meet him for the mission brief. At the meeting Anderson reveals Nihlus' purpose and their mission. Normandy receives distress signal from Eden Prime.
[Ending skill]
.....
Khan sat in a tree on top of a hill. The geography was different from the game, obviously. But it was still similar enough that from his position he could see both the dig site and the star port. He decided it would be wise to get acquainted with the rifle and other weapons. There were Geth at the dig site. He adjusted the rifle and fired. The bullet went straight and true, wind, gravity, or distance apparently had no say on his aim, but the recoil meant he would have to steady himself between each shot. One down and two remained, luckily, they haven't noticed yet.
Khan took another shot and downed another target. Unfortunately, the third one noticed and immediately took cover. It peeked its head out obviously trying to locate their attacker. Khan took aim but too much of it was still protected. He waited for the perfect moment. But it never came because a minute later a rain of bullets came from the opposite side of the dig-site. It was Shepard, Alenko, and the newly joined Ashley Williams.
Khan then turned his attention to the star port. After relocating to a nearby roof for a cleaner view, he got into position just in time to see Saren appearing to be waiting for something thing or someone. Then he spotted Nihlus, carefully and covertly making his way to the star port. He could shoot Saren, save Nihlus, having a Specter owing him had its merits. But Nihlus is a naive individual. And without his death than Shepard's acceptance into the Specter ranks could be unintentionally delayed. Which could have other unforeseen consequences. A choice needed to be made. Decisions, decisions.
....
Shepard was clearing the dig site. The beacon wasn't there but was there was Geth. The found one taking cover behind a pillar, they dropped it rather quickly. They expected to run into more Geth, but not for them to already have been killed. After clearing the site, Shepard, Williams, and Alenko gathered together. Ashley spoke first, "It isn't here, they must have already moved it."
Shepard responded, "It's alright Williams. We haven't lost yet." Alenko spoke next, "Any sign of what attacked the Geth before we arrived?" Shepard gave the two bodies another glance. Single GSW in both of them.
Then she said, "Single gunshot to both of them. Probably a sniper. After the third one took cover, they may have moved on. And we definitely should. The beacon is not here, so let's head to the star port."
They immediately left the dig site, after finding some surviving scientists, Shepard was able to confirm that the beacon had indeed been move to the star port. As they climbed a hill, a lone gunshot could be heard in the distance. Then off in the distance a massive ship was spotted. If Shepard was being honest it looked like a giant squid. As they headed towards the star port, they came across several civilians who corpses were impaled on spikes. Their bodies started to twitch showing they were still alive. The spikes started to retract releasing the hollowed-out bodies. Those bodies were nothing more than husks at this point, but they were still moving. They began growling and hissing before charging at them. Shepard and her squad raised their weapons when a shot rang out causing one of the husks to drop. The other husks unphased continued charging at them.
The bullets began flying and a minute later it was over. After confirming there were no more enemies in the immediate surroundings, Shepard and her squad immediately tried to locate the sniper. After a minute, a guy could be seen coming down the hill. Shepard couldn't help but stare, it wasn't because he was handsome. He was, but it was his outfit. He was dressed in a actual hood and cloak. The clothes underneath look like hunting clothes of someone who generally avoids civilization when they can.
He tilted his head slightly, then he said, "Are you going to stare all day or are you going to help save people?!" That allowed Shepard to stop her staring and focus enough to ask, "Right, who are you and were you responsible for the bodies we found at the dig-site?"
He adjusted his rifle, the most modern thing about him, and said, "If you mean the Geth, then yes. And as for who I am, the name's Khan... Khan Dovak. I'm an explorer of sorts. Now, if your done with the questions, I saw a Turian in silver just casually standing at the airport like the area isn't on fire." He took a few steps towards the star port before adding, "Huh, now that I think about it, I did see another Turian. That one was wearing black and moved with purpose. Didn't see anything else because a Geth drone tried to sneak up on me. Had more pressing concerns at that point."
Then he continued heading towards the star port not even bothering to see if they were following. Alenko asked, "Are we going to try a different stop him?" Shepard thought about it for a moment. Then she said, "Negative, we have our orders. While I would prefer to keep civilians out of harm's way, we need to locate that beacon. Besides, as odd as he seems, he appears to at least know how to handle himself."
....
Tanya was sitting in her designated office. It is inside a Terran command center, she had options, but this is what she preferred. While the Imperium had more advanced technology, the Dominion was cleaner and more practical. There were enough similarities that one could believe that the Terran Dominion were an offshoot of the Imperium. Apparently, something Khan plans to take advantage of.
Anyway, she was going over the progress. In about two weeks' time all the needed facilities will be built and then they can start building up their forces. Now, Khan is currently trying to install himself into this Commander Shepard's crew. From there he will try to influence certain events, scout out defenses, and most importantly try and determine how much time they actually have.
Khan had explained while he had a general understanding of how this world's story works. He does not know how long it will take, he knows there is a time skip of six weeks, two years, and six months. The six weeks will happen after Shepard successfully defends the Citadel, the two years happen after the Normandy is destroyed, and the six months happen after Shepard turns herself in and is held in confinement on Earth. Of course, they'll be making their moves during those six months. Eliminating the Reapers is the priority during that time, the second half is to make sure no one notices are movements until it's too late. Of course, the real trick will be making our forces appear disjointed.
Will they try to properly unite, or will the council's ego cause them to believe there is no need for such a thing. This will be a proper war in either scenario. Septerra was little more than a test, while Marvel was slightly on par with a raid. This time they will have a proper build up and after they'll have planetary systems where the can properly build their forces and she wouldn't have to join the front lines ever again. No, that's not currently accurate.
She's barely been on the front lines since she joined. The closest gotten was observing the battlefield from orbit. Tanya thought about that offer Khan made in what now seems like a lifetime ago
Khan was brutal, manipulative, and would do whatever it takes to give himself an edge. However, from what she observed, he always honors his agreements. But, like a djinn, he'll give you what you ask for and then take advantage of it if you weren't specific in asking him not to do that.
Since nobody stops to consider that unless they know who they're dealing with, Khan will be the one to benefit no matter what deal is made. This universe won't see this coming.
Tanya looked at the report on the species that made up this universe. She largely ignores the report on humans, other than the use of biotics, they're no different than the kind she is already familiar with.
First up is the Asari, considered the oldest, most influential, and most respected on the council. They are known for their diplomacy, elegance, and mastery of biotics. They are a mono-gender race, so they all look female and need a partner to reproduce. They have a thousand-year lifespan, which is broken up into three stages. The Maiden, Matron, and the Matriarch.
Second are the Salarians. A much shorter lifespan at forty years, they make up for this with extreme intelligence. That being said, due to their short lives they are very quick to forget the lessons from their mistakes and rarely consider the long-term ratifications for their actions. They co-founded the council with the Asari and were the architects behind the Specter Program. Modeling it after their own special forces.
Third are the Turians. A disciplined and military focused culture. Since joining the council, the make up the majority of the council forces. They also founded C-Sec with is the official police force on the Citadel. Their lifespan is currently unmeasured but appears to only be a decade or two longer than humans.
Tanya continued reading the reports on Krogan, Quarian, and Batarians. She stopped when the Batarians file came to view. Their military could be profiled as bullies. Attempting to raid and enslave any humans that try to stand alone. Apparently, they were the biggest backers behind the Elysium Blitz, when it failed and they took the brunt of humanity's retaliation and were consequently handed their own asses.
The Batarians immediately went crying to council claiming the humans were unjustly bullying them. To their credit, the council saw right through the bull and told them to suck it up. The Batarians, realizing they couldn't do what they wanted without consequences, withdrew from their embassy from the Citadel as a form of protest. According to the report, they're implementing any scheme they can to take assets they believe they're entitled too as well as trying to find anything that might let them assert themselves as the absolute power in the galaxy.
Tanya concluded that were the easiest to manipulate but hardest to control. Like a grenade, you could toss them at whatever you wanted but don't expect them to leave the things you want untouched.
Apparently, in the original "story" the Batarians desire for control is what did them in. They found a Reaper corpse and assumed it nothing more than an advanced ship. The committed their best and brightest to study it. Unknown to them even when they're brain dead, a Reaper will still emit a indoctrination signal turning those that studied it into sleeper agents.
With that, Tanya pulled the file on the Reapers. An advanced artificial intelligence species. She looked at the picture of the giant mechanical squid. Apparently just one of those hold millions of individual ai programs. Their whole deal is preservation through destruction. Much like those who collected butterflies. Nobody ever stops to think that the butterflies are being killed before they go into the glass case.
Some call it the arrogance of thought. Assuming that something that gets done to non-thinking creatures couldn't possibly happen to something that does think. That being said, any attempt at conquest has to go through them. This galaxy is too big otherwise.
Tanya looked at the plan once again. It made sense, build up our forces and intercept the Reapers when they go for the direct route. Then disrupt the communication network to let the council know something is coming but not what. And take advantage of the fact that everyone tries to keep secrets because they are concerned how everyone will react.
It's the practical move, and one they'll gladly take advantage of. Two to three years is a long time, but for everyone here who don't want to believe, it won't be enough.